NEW PROJECTS ANNOUNCED FOR "LINCOLN CARES"Community donation program has new corporate matching sponsor

Mayor Chris Beutler today announced that the Lincoln Cares program will help fund six projects and programs across
the community in 2009. Lincoln Cares is a community donation program, which allows Lincoln Electric System (LES)
customers to voluntarily add one dollar to their bill payments each month for projects not included in the City budget.

The Mayor made the announcement at the Air Park West Recreation Center, where the NEOS play center was on display.
The high-tech, interactive, portable play tower is one of the items to be funded by Lincoln Cares this year. The 2009
Lincoln Cares project list also includes the development of the Witherbee Park playground; a solar-heated pool and
bathhouse demonstration project at Woods Pool; Union Plaza; and Boosalis Trail renovation from 17th to 20th streets.
(More details on the projects are attached.)

Mayor Beutler also announced that Lincoln Cares has a new lineup of matching sponsors. Lincoln Parks Foundation will
provide a 50-cent match for every dollar contributed, up to $15,000, for the next year. The Foundation joins Time
Warner Cable (TWC), which is in its second year of sponsorship. TWC will provide $30,000 in matching dollars and
another $30,000 for on-air promotion of Lincoln Cares.

"In the past six years, that small monthly donation from many people has added up to some big improvements for our
City parks system," said Mayor Beutler. "I want to thank LES customers for continuing to support our parks through
Lincoln Cares. And I commend Lincoln Parks Foundation and Time Warner Cable for helping us stretch those dollars even
farther. In these tough economic times, this public-private partnership gives everyone in Lincoln an easy way to do
their part for our parks."

"We're very grateful to the Lincoln community and are proud to be able to support this project and make Lincoln an
even better place to live and do business," said Ann Shrewsbury, Director of Public Affairs for TWC. "We have nearly
300 employees who are proud to call Lincoln home, and this was another great way for us to give back to them as well
as show our appreciation to customers here."

From its inception in February 2003 through January 2009, Lincoln Cares has collected $435,891 from LES customers
adding a dollar to their bill payments and through direct payments to Lincoln Parks Foundation. An average of 4,974
LES customers donate to the program every month. Another $5,264 has been contributed through partnerships with Pepsi,
Lincoln Benefit Life, Olsson Associates and Culver's Restaurants. The corporate contribution to Lincoln Cares now
totals $390,000 for a total collection of $831,233.

Other projects funded in the first six years of the program include air conditioning at Antelope Park enclosed
shelter; the acquisition of prairie and grasslands at Pioneers Park; the Nebraska State Liberty Bell Shelter in
Antelope Park; restoration of the Four Wars Memorial and Pioneer Woman sculptures; the Sunken Gardens renovation; an
addition to the Nature Center Prairie Building; the Park Middle School Teen Center; benches along the Holmes Lake Trail
Loop; a shelter at Woods Park; the Bethany Park Shelter; the Green Team Youth Employment Program; the Youth Outdoor
Adventure Program; Peach Park expansion; Pioneers Park Nature Center art work; the Jamaica North Trail Bridge;
Bountiful Prairie sculpture renovation; historic lighting at Sunken Gardens; picnic tables at Bowling Lake; Trago
Park Sprayground; lighting at Pocras Park; an upgraded toddler play area at the Ager Play Center; Lincoln Safari
program; shooting sports facility; and Parker's Pals swim and recreation program scholarships for low-income youth.

"Lincoln Cares is a perfect fit for the mission of the Lincoln Parks Foundation, which is to provide funds to help
enhance our parks and recreation opportunities above and beyond what the City should budget for each year," said
Christie Dionisopoulos, President of the Lincoln Parks Foundation. "As Lincoln grows, so do the demands on our parks
system. We believe strongly that Lincoln parks and recreation programs and facilities are fundamental to our community
and we are excited to be a new partner with Lincoln Cares."

"We are very thankful for everyone who supports this program," said Lynn Johnson, Director of the Lincoln Parks and
Recreation Department. "With our tight budget, this program allows us to go the extra mile to keep the parks system
one of the jewels of Lincoln."

To donate to Lincoln Cares, LES customers can add one dollar to their bill payments each month. Those who pay LES
through automatic bank billing can add Lincoln Cares to their payments each month by calling LES at 475-4211.

For more information on Lincoln Cares, contact the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department at 441-8264 or see the
City's Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: cares).